Cord grip with liquid drain

ABSTRACT

A cord grip has a conduit hub configured to be connected to an electronics housing. A bore is formed in the conduit hub and has a first end communicating with the electronics housing and a second end configured to be connected to a conduit. A wire seal retains electrical wiring and is located in the hub forming a liquid-tight seal between the first end and the second end. A channel for transporting liquid from the conduit has an inlet communicating with the conduit and an outlet communicating with the exterior of the electronics housing. An overmolded bond may be formed between the wire seal and the electrical wiring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cord grip for electrical conduit and moreparticularly to a cord grip suitable for use with electrical componentshaving a housing or electrical box such as lighting fixtures.

Electrical fixtures having electronics housings, such as lightingfixtures, and other electrical boxes, enclosures and housings(hereinafter referred to collectively as an “electronics housing”) areubiquitous in residential, commercial, office and industrial spacesthroughout the world. In a typical application electrical wiring is runto the electronics housing inside of a conduit where the conduit may berigid or flexible and may be made of metal, plastic or other material.Electrical wires that carry electrical current to the electronicshousing runs through the conduit. Typically the conduit is secured tothe electronics housing and the electrical wires enter the electronicshousing through a hole in the electronics housing. A cord grip may beprovided to secure the conduit and the wiring to the electronicshousing. The cord grip may provide a connection, such as a threadedconnection between the conduit and the electronics housing, and mayinclude a rubber grommet that may grip the electrical wiring.

One type of electronics housing may be found in a lighting fixture. Morerecently, with the advent of efficient solid state lighting sources,these lighting fixtures are often used with LEDs. LEDs are solid statedevices that convert electric energy to light and generally comprise oneor more active regions of semiconductor material interposed betweenoppositely doped semiconductor layers. When a bias is applied across thedoped layers, holes and electrons are injected into the active regionwhere they recombine to generate light. Light is produced in the activeregion and emitted from surfaces of the LED. Electronics in suchelectrical housings are susceptible to damage when exposed to liquidssuch as water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments a cord grip comprises a conduit hub configured to beconnected to an electronics housing. A bore is formed in the conduit huband has a first end in communication with the electronics housing and asecond end configured to be connected to a conduit. A wire seal retainselectrical wiring and is located in the hub forming a liquid-tight sealbetween the first end and the second end. A channel for transportingliquid from the conduit has an inlet communicating with the conduit andan outlet communicating with the exterior of the electronics housing.

The electrical wiring may extend through the wire seal. An overmoldedbond may be formed between the wire seal and the electrical wiring. Theelectrical wiring may comprise at least one electrical wire or aplurality of electrical wires encased in sheathing. The electronicshousing may be part of a lighting fixture. The conduit hub may bemounted to a connector on the electronics housing, the channel beingformed at least partially between the conduit hub and the connector. Thechannel may be formed internally of the conduit hub. The conduit hub maybe mounted to a connector on the electronics housing, and the wire sealis received in the connector. The wire seal may be retained in the boreby a lock member. The lock member may be threadably engaged withscrewthreads in the bore. The lock member may hold the wire seal againsta shoulder formed in the bore. The lock member may be disposed to afirst side of the channel inlet and an end of the conduit may bedisposed to a second side of the end of the conduit. The wire seal maycomprise a plate and the plate is secured to the conduit hub. A shouldermay be formed in the bore that defines a hole and the wire seal maycomprise a plate that is secured to the conduit hub and a sealing memberthat engages the hole. The plate may be overmolded with the sealingmember. Electrical wiring may extend through the wire seal where theplate and the electrical wiring are overmolded with the sealing member.

In some embodiments, a cord grip, comprises a conduit hub configured tobe connected to an electronics housing. A bore is formed in the conduithub having a first end communicating with the electronics housing and asecond end configured to be connected to a conduit. A wire seal islocated in the hub forming a liquid-tight seal with the conduit hub.Electrical wiring is overmolded bonded to the wire seal to create aliquid-tight seal between the electrical wiring and the wire seal. Achannel for transporting liquid from the conduit has an inletcommunicating with the conduit and an outlet communicating with theexterior of the electronics housing.

The wire seal may comprise a seal member located to one side of thechannel. The electronics housing may be part of a lighting fixture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lighting fixture inwhich the cord grip of the invention may be used.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lighting fixture of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cord grip of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of a wire grip used in the cordgrip of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the cord grip of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cord grip of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the conduit hub of the cord grip of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the conduit hub of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a section view showing an electrical conduit attached to thecord grip of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the cordgrip of FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is a section view of another embodiment of the cord grip of theinvention.

FIG. 12 is a view similar FIG. 11 showing the use of an assembly tool.

FIG. 13 is a section view showing an electrical conduit attached to thecord grip of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a section view of another embodiment of the cord grip of theinvention.

FIG. 15 is a section view showing an electrical conduit attached to thecord grip of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention now will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region orsubstrate is referred to as being “on” or extending “onto” anotherelement, it can be directly on or extend directly onto the other elementor intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on” or extending “directlyonto” another element, there are no intervening elements present. Itwill also be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyconnected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are nointervening elements present.

Relative terms such as “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or“horizontal” or “vertical” or “top” or “bottom” may be used herein todescribe a relationship of one element, layer or region to anotherelement, layer or region as illustrated in the figures. It will beunderstood that these terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted inthe figures.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, comparative, quantitative terms suchas “less” and “greater”, are intended to encompass the concept ofequality. As an example, “less” can mean not only “less” in thestrictest mathematical sense, but also, “less than or equal to.”

The cord grip of the invention prevents the entry of water intoelectronics housings and provides strain relief for the electricalwiring entering the electronics housing. While the cord grip of theinvention is shown and described below with respect to an electronicshousing used in conjunction with an LED lighting fixture, the cord gripof the invention may be advantageously used with any electronics housingwhere the presence of water or other liquid may be problematic such asjunction boxes, fuse boxes, NEMA enclosures and/or electronics housingsused with electrical equipment other than a lighting fixture(hereinafter referred to collectively as an “electronics housing”).

One environment in which the cord grip of the invention may be used willbe described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIGS. 1 and 2 show lightingfixture 1 that uses solid state light sources, such as LEDs 18. Theterms “LED” and “LED device” as used herein may refer to any solid-statelight emitter. The terms “solid state light emitter” or “solid stateemitter” may include a light emitting diode, laser diode, organic lightemitting diode, and/or other semiconductor device which includes one ormore semiconductor layers, which may include silicon, silicon carbide,gallium nitride and/or other semiconductor materials, a substrate whichmay include sapphire, silicon, silicon carbide and/or othermicroelectronic substrates, and one or more contact layers which mayinclude metal and/or other conductive materials. A solid-state lightingdevice produces light (ultraviolet, visible, or infrared) by excitingelectrons across the band gap between a conduction band and a valenceband of a semiconductor active (light-emitting) layer, with the electrontransition generating light at a wavelength that depends on the bandgap. Thus, the color (wavelength) of the light emitted by a solid-stateemitter depends on the materials of the active layers thereof. Invarious embodiments, solid-state light emitters may have peakwavelengths in the visible range and/or be used in combination withlumiphoric materials having peak wavelengths in the visible range.Multiple solid state light emitters and/or multiple lumiphoric materials(i.e., in combination with at least one solid state light emitter) maybe used in a single device, such as to produce light perceived as whiteor near white in character. In certain embodiments, the aggregatedoutput of multiple solid-state light emitters and/or lumiphoricmaterials may generate warm white light output having a colortemperature range of from about 2200K to about 6000K.

Solid state light emitters may be used individually or in combinationwith one or more lumiphoric materials (e.g., phosphors, scintillators,lumiphoric inks) and/or optical elements to generate light at a peakwavelength, or of at least one desired perceived color (includingcombinations of colors that may be perceived as white). Inclusion oflumiphoric (also called ‘luminescent’) materials in lighting devices asdescribed herein may be accomplished by direct coating on solid statelight emitter, adding such materials to encapsulants, adding suchmaterials to lenses, by embedding or dispersing such materials withinlumiphor support elements, and/or coating such materials on lumiphorsupport elements. Other materials, such as light scattering elements(e.g., particles) and/or index matching materials, may be associatedwith a lumiphor, a lumiphor binding medium, or a lumiphor supportelement that may be spatially segregated from a solid state emitter.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a lighting canopy or lighting fixture 1comprises a fixture housing 6 that may be attached to a ceiling or othersuitable support structure. For example the lighting fixture may besuspended from a ceiling by cables, rods, brackets or other supports 4.The lighting fixture 1 is shown in FIG. 1 in a typical orientation wherethe light is emitted in a generally downward direction; however, in usethe lighting fixture may have other orientations. A lens assembly 2,comprising an optically transmissive material, is mounted to the fixturehousing 6 creating an interior space defined by the fixture housing 6and lens assembly 2. The interior space created by the lens assembly 2and housing 6 contains an LED assembly 8 comprising a plurality of LEDs18 forming an LED array that emit light when actuated through anelectrical path. The lens assembly 2 may be mounted in the trofferhousing 6 by any suitable mechanism. The housing 6 and lens assembly 12may have a wide variety of configurations and the lighting fixture asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is only one example of such a lighting fixture.

Lamp electronics may be contained in electronics housing 19. Theelectronics housing may form part of the fixture housing 6, as shown, orit may be a separate box attached to the lighting fixture or otherelectronics equipment. Moreover, the electronics housing may be astandalone enclosure such as a junction box. In the embodiment of alighting fixture the electronics housing 19 may contain electronics suchas a driver and power supply for powering the LEDs 18 in LED assembly 8,and control circuitry for SmartCast® technology as provided by Cree,Inc. or the like. For lighting fixtures equipped with SmartCast®technology or other similar controls, sensors 20 for detecting motion,ambient light, wireless signals or other stimulus may be provided. Adriver circuit or multiple driver circuits may be housed withinelectronics housing 19 and may form part of the electrical path to theLEDs for providing current to the LEDs. Electronic components within thecompartment 19 may be shielded and isolated. Various driver circuits maybe used to power the light sources. Suitable circuits are compact enoughto fit within the compartments, while still providing the power deliveryand control capabilities necessary to drive high-voltage LEDs, forexample. At the most basic level a driver circuit may comprise an AC toDC converter, a DC to DC converter, or both. In one embodiment, thedriver circuit comprises an AC to DC converter and a DC to DC converter,both of which are located inside the compartment. In another embodiment,the AC to DC conversion is done remotely (i.e., outside the fixture),and the DC to DC conversion is done at the control circuit inside thecompartment. In yet another embodiment, only AC to DC conversion is doneat the control circuit within the compartment. Some of the electroniccircuitry for powering the LEDs 18 may also be contained as part of theLED assembly 8.

Typically the LED assembly 8 comprises one or more LED boards supportingand electrically coupled to the LEDs 18. The LED board may be anyappropriate board, such as a PCB, flexible circuit board or metal corecircuit board with the LEDs 18 mounted and interconnected thereon.Details of suitable arrangements of the LEDs and lamp electronics foruse in the lighting fixture 1 are disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/226,992, entitled “Solid State Lighting fixtures Suitablefor High Temperature Operation Having Separate Blue-Shifted-Yellow/Greenand Blue-Shifted-Red Emitters” filed on Aug. 3, 2016 which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In other embodiments,all similarly colored LEDs may be used where for example all warm whiteLEDs or all warm white LEDs may be used where all of the LEDs emit at asimilar color point.

The electrical path to the LEDs may also comprise electrical wiring 100for providing critical current to the lighting devices such as LEDs 18.The electrical wiring 100 is run to the electronics housing 19 through aconduit 102. The conduit 102 may be a rigid or flexible tube and may bemade of metal, plastic or other material. In most applications multiplesections of conduit are connected together to create long runsconnecting the electrical wiring 100 from a source of power such as abuildings power grid to the electronic components in electronics housing19. In most applications the conduit 102 is not sealed such that watermay form inside of the conduit. It will be appreciated that water maydevelop in conduit 102 as a result of condensation inside of the conduit102 from humidity in the air. Water may also leak into the conduit 102through gaps in the conduit run. When water, or other liquids, entersinto or is formed in the conduit 102 some of the water may drain andcollect at the interface between the conduit 102 and the electronicshousing 19. Some of the water may leak into the electronics housing 19and into the lighting fixture where it may accumulate on the electricalcomponents of the fixture causing degradation of the system components.The water may degrade the performance of the components such as thepower supply, LEDs, electronics boards and the like. With LED lightingsystems of the type described above, the lens assembly 2 is often sealedto the fixture housing 6 such that the internal chamber that containsthe LED assembly 8 is a closed space. As the lighting fixture heats andcools during activation and deactivation of the LEDs 18, the air insideof the lighting fixture repetitively warms and cools causing the air ininside the housing to cyclically expand and contract. The expansion andcontraction of the air in space 4 can cause water in the conduit 102 tobe drawn into the electronics housing 19 exacerbating the issue.Moreover, in some embodiments, the lighting fixture may be used in arefrigerated environment or in a cold outdoor environment where theexpansion and contraction of the system due to heating and cooling maybe significant.

Referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment of a cord grip 100 is showncomprising a conduit hub 110 that threadably engages a threadedconnector 104 on the electronics housing 19, electrical wiring 101 and awire seal 150. A portion of an electronics housing 19 is shown that, inone embodiment, comprises externally threaded connector 104 thatincludes an internal bore 103 that functions as a conduit to communicatethe interior of the electronics housing 19 with the exterior of theelectronics housing. The threaded connector 104 comprises externalthreads 108 that threadably engage internal threads formed on conduithub 110. In some embodiments, the threaded connector 104 is formedintegrally with a wall 19 a of the electronics housing 19. In otherembodiments, the threaded connector 104 may be a separate member fromthe electronics housing 19 and may be, for example, connected to aknockout hole 103 in the wall of the electronics housing by a lock nutor other mechanism. Other mechanisms for providing a threaded connector104 on the electronics housing 19 may be used.

Referring to FIGS. 5-9, the internal bore 106 of conduit hub 110comprises a first internally threaded bore 112 that threadably engagesscrew threads 102 a formed on the end of conduit 102. The threads 112 amay be NPT threads. While the connection between the conduit 102 and theconduit hub 110 is typically a threaded connection between threads 112 aof the conduit hub 110 and the threads 102 a on the end of conduit 102,the conduit 102 may be coupled to the conduit hub 110 by welding,brazing, soldering, compression coupling or the like. Moreover, anintermediate coupling may be placed between the conduit 102 and conduithub 110 that connects these components together. Set screws 116 may beused to lock the conduit 102 to the conduit hub 110 and the conduit hub110 to the threaded connector 104.

The internal bore 106 of conduit hub 110 comprises a second internallythreaded bore 114 comprising screwthreads 144 a that threadably engagethe external threads 108 of the connector 104. The threads 114 a may bestandard straight threads. The exterior of conduit hub 110 may be formedwith flat surfaces 111 that are configured to be gripped by a tool suchas a wench to facilitate the mounting of the conduit hub 110 on theconnector 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 two flat surfaces 111 areformed that extend only along a partial height of the conduit hub 110with the remaining height of the conduit hub 110 being cylindrical whilein the embodiment of FIG. 10 six flat surfaces 111 are provided thatextend for the entire height of the conduit hub 110 to create a hex nutstyle configuration.

The threaded bores 112, 114 are axially aligned such that bore 106creates an internal passage through the conduit hub 110. An annularshoulder 118 is formed between the bores 112, 114 that defines a centralopening 120. The shoulder 118 provides a stop against which the end ofthe conduit 102 may abut when the conduit is fully inserted into thefirst bore 112. The shoulder 118 also provides a portion of the drainchannels and seal for the cord grip as will be described. When theconduit hub 110 is mounted on connector 104 the bores 103 and 106 areaxially aligned to create a conduit from the exterior of the conduit hubto the interior of the electronics housing 19.

At least one channel 130 is formed in the conduit hub 110 that extendsfrom a channel inlet 132 that is in fluid communication with the bore106 and conduit 102 to a channel outlet 134 that communicates with andevacuates to the exterior of the conduit hub 110. In the illustratedembodiment four channels 130 are provided that are spaced equally aroundthe conduit hub 110. While four equally spaced channels 130 are shown, agreater or fewer number of channels may be provided and the channels donot have to be equally spaced from one another. Each channel 130includes a generally radially extending portion 136 that extends fromthe channel inlet 132. The channel inlet 132 is positioned interior ofthe conduit 102 when the conduit is connected to the conduit hub 110such that the inlet 132 is in fluid communication with the interior ofthe conduit 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 136 ofthe channel is formed between the channel wall 122 formed in the conduithub 110 and the top surface 104 a of connector 104 when the conduit hub110 is secured to the connector 104.

A second portion 138 of the channel 130 extends from the end of thefirst portion 136 to the bottom of the conduit hub 110 and terminates atoutlet 134. The second portion 138 of the channel 130 is formed betweenthe channel wall 140 and the threaded side wall of connector 104 whenthe conduit hub 110 is secured to the connector 104. While in theillustrated embodiment the channel portions 136, 138 are formed betweenthe conduit hub 110 and the connector 104, the channels 130 may beformed completely internally of the conduit hub 110 between the channelinlet 132 and the channel outlet 134. The channel outlet 134 ispositioned outside of connector 104 such that any water discharged fromthe channel outlet is deposited to the exterior of the electronicshousing 19. While the channels 130 are described as having two distinctportions 136, 138 that extend between the inlet 132 and the outlet 134,the channels may have other shapes provided the channels are capable oftransporting fluid from the inlet 132 that is interior of the conduithub and in fluid communication with the conduit 102 and bore 106 to anoutlet 134 that is outside of the electronics housing 19. For example,the channels 130 may have a curvilinear or serpentine shape such that nosharp corners are used. The channels may also have a greater or fewernumber of portions. The portions may also be provided at other thanright angles relative to one another.

A wire seal 150 is positioned in the bore 106 between the connector 104and the conduit hub 110 that receives the electrical wiring 101 andprovides a liquid-tight connection between the conduit hub 110 and theconnector 104. The wire seal 150 may made of an elastomeric materialsuch as rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, silicone elastomers or thelike. The wire seal 150 is deformable to form a liquid tight sealbetween the conduit hub 110 and the connector 104 as will be described.

The wire seal 150 receives electrical wiring 101 such that theelectrical wiring 101 extends through the wire seal 150 and between theinterior of the electronics housing 19 and the exterior of the conduithub 110. In one embodiment, the wire seal 150 is overmolded onto theelectrical wiring 101 such that the wire seal 150 and the electricalwiring 101 are bonded to one another such that a liquid-tight seal iscreated between the electrical wiring 101 and the wire seal 150. Theelectrical wiring 101 may comprise wires 103 that are encased in acommon electrically insulating sheathing 105 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9such that the wire seal is bonded to the sheathing 105 to create theliquid tight seal. In other embodiments the individual wires 103 ofelectrical wiring 101 may be individually insert molded in and bonded tothe wire seal 150 such that a liquid tight seal is created between theindividual wires and the wire seal 150 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 10. Wherethe electrical wiring is permanently secured in the seal 150, such as byovermolding, the seal 150 and a length of integrated wiring 101 may beprovided as a unit where a first connection is made between theintegrated electrical wiring 101 and the wiring 100 in the conduit 102and a second connection is made between the integrated electrical wiring101 and electrical conductors 107 that are in the electrical path to thelamp electronics in the electronics housing 19 as shown in FIG. 9. Theelectrical conductors may comprise wires, pads, ribbons or the like thatare in the electrical path to the electronics in electronics housing 19.Overmolding the wire seal 150 on electrical wiring 101 provides apermanent liquid-tight seal between the wiring and the wire seal. In anovermolded configuration the electrical wiring 101 is placed inside of amold cavity and the elastomeric material that forms the wire seal 150 isinjected into the cavity such that the elastomeric material ispermanently bonded to the electrical wiring during the moldingoperation. As used herein an overmold bond means the permanentliquid-tight bond formed between the overmolded material, e.g. theelastomeric material, and the part, e.g. the electrical wiring overwhich the elastomeric material is molded. The overmold bond may resultfrom a mechanical lock between the two components, a melt adhesionand/or a chemical adhesion depending upon the materials used and thestructure of the inserted component.

In some embodiments the liquid-tight seal between the wire seal 150 andthe electrical wiring 101 may be created by forming through holes in thewire seal into which the wiring 101 is inserted and creating the liquidtight seal by a compression fit, adhesive, ultrasonic welding or thelike. In some embodiments the wire seal 150 may be separate from theelectrical wiring and the wiring may be inserted through the wire sealduring assembly of the system. In such a system the deformable wire seal150 may be sealed in liquid-tight engagement with the electrical wiringby a compression fit such as when the conduit hub 110 is tightened onthe threaded connector 104 or by adhesive, sealant or the like. However,the use of overmolding to create an overmold bond between the wire seal150 and the electrical wiring 101 provides a cost effective andpermanent liquid tight seal.

Referring to FIG. 4, for example, the wire seal 150 includes a bottomportion 152 that fits into a mating countersunk hole 154 in the bore 103of the connector 104. The walls of the bottom portion 152 and thecountersunk hole 154 are formed at an angle relative to the insertiondirection of the wire seal such that the bottom portion 152 and thecountersunk 154 hole are shaped as truncated cones. When the conduit hub110 is assembled, the bottom portion 152 of the wire seal 150 is wedgedinto the countersunk hole 154 to create a liquid-tight sealtherebetween. The wire seal 150 includes a top portion 156 that fitsinto the hole 120 formed in shoulder 118. The top portion 156 may beformed with a conical shape as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 9 or a roundedtapered shape as shown in FIGS. 4 and 10 such that any fluid that flowsonto the wire seal 150 from the conduit 102 is directed toward theoutside of the wire seal to the channel inlets 132. The top portion 156is positioned above the inlets to the drainage channels such that waterdrains from the top of the wire seal to the channels without pooling ontop of the wire seal 150. Moreover if the top of the top portion 156 isabove the inlet to the channels some water build-up below the wireseal/wiring interface is allowed without causing immediate submersion ofthe wire seal/wiring interface thereby allowing water to enter the cordgrip at a slightly faster pace than it drains. Between the top portion156 and the bottom portion 152 an extending sealing member 158 isprovided that is trapped between the flat upper surface 104 a of theconnector 104 and the shoulder 118 of the conduit hub 110. The sealingmember 158 is compressed between the flat upper surface of the connector104 and the shoulder 118 of the conduit hub 110 to create a liquid-tightseal therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 9, to assemble the cord grip, the wire seal 150 withthe integrated electrical wiring 101 is inserted into the countersunkhole 154 of connector 104. To the extent the wire seal is not providedwith permanent integrated wiring the electrical wiring 101 is insertedthrough the holes in the wire seal and a liquid-tight seal is createdbetween the wiring and the wire seal such as by adhesive, sealant,compression or the like. The electrical wiring 101 is electricallycoupled to the wires 100 in the conduit 102 and to electrical conductors107 in the electronics housing 19. The end of the conduit 102 is securedto the conduit hub 110 such as by threadably engaging screwthreads 102 aon the conduit 102 with mating screwthreads 112 a on the conduit hub110. When fully connected the end of the conduit 102 abuts the shoulder118. The conduit hub 110 is threaded onto the connector 104 trapping thesealing member 158 between the flat upper surface 104 a of the connector104 and the shoulder 118 of the conduit hub. As the conduit hub 118 istightened on the connector 104, the bottom portion 152 of the wire seal150 is compressed in the countersunk hole 154. The wire seal 150 createsa liquid-tight seal between the conduit hub 110 and connecter 104. It isto be understood that the order of the steps for assembling the cordgrip may vary from the order provided above.

Once assembled, the cord grip of the invention seals the electronicshousing 19 and evacuates water or other fluid in the conduit 102 to theexterior of the system via channels 130. Referring to FIG. 9 the waterevacuation path is shown by arrows. The water collects inside of theconduit 102, above the wire seal 150. The conical or tapered shape ofthe upper portion 156 of the wire seal 150 directs the water laterallytoward the inlets 132 of the channels 130. The water flows into theinlets 132 and through the channels 130 to the outlets 134. The outlets134 discharge the water outside of the electronics housing 19 and awayfrom the electronic components contained in the electronics housing 19.

Another embodiment of the cord grip of the invention is shown in FIGS.11 through 13. The cord grip 200 comprises a conduit hub 202 thatcomprises an internally threaded bore 204 that acts as a conduit thatcommunicates the interior of the electronics housing 19 with theexterior of the electronics housing. The threaded bore 204 comprisesinternal threads 204 a that threadably engage with external threads 102a formed on conduit 102. In some embodiments, the conduit hub 202 isformed integrally with a wall 19 a of the electronics housing 19. Inother embodiments, the conduit hub 202 may be a separate member from theelectronics housing 19 and may be connected to the wall 19 a of theelectronics housing by any suitable mechanism such as welding, a locknut, separate fasteners or the like. Other mechanisms for connecting theconduit hub 202 to the electronics housing 19 may be used. Moreover, theconduit hub 202 may be formed integrally with the electronics housing 19as shown in FIG. 13. The conduit hub may have other shapes andconfigurations from that shown in the drawings.

A wire seal 250 is positioned in the threaded bore 204 of conduit hub202 that receives the electrical wiring 101 and provides a liquid-tightseal between the conduit hub 202 and the interior of electronics housing19. The wire seal 250 may made of an elastomeric material such asrubber, thermoplastic elastomers, silicone elastomers or the like. Thewire seal 250 is deformable to form a liquid tight seal with the conduithub 202 as will be described.

As previously described the wire seal 250 receives the electrical wiring101 such that the electrical wiring 101 extends between the exterior ofthe electronics housing 19 and the interior of the electronics housing.In one embodiment, the wire seal 250 is overmolded onto the wiring 101such that the seal and the electrical wiring is overmold bonded to oneanother as previously described such that a liquid-tight seal is createdbetween the electrical wiring 101 and the seal 250. As previouslydescribed the wiring 101 may comprise wires 103 that are encased in acommon insulating sheathing 105 that is overmolded to the wire seal orthe individual wires may be overmolded to the wire seal 250 such that aliquid-tight seal is created between the individual wires and the wireseal 250. The liquid-tight seal between the wire seal 250 and theelectrical wiring may also be formed by a compression fit, adhesive,ultrasonic welding or the like as previously described. Where theelectrical wiring 101 is permanently secured in the seal 250, such as byovermolding, the seal 250 and a length of integrated wiring may beprovided as a unit where a first connection is made between theintegrated electrical wiring and the wiring 100 in the conduit 102 and asecond connection is made between the integrated electrical wiring andthe conductors 107 in the electronics housing 19.

The wire seal 250 includes a bottom portion 252 that extends to thebottom of bore 204. The wire seal 250 includes a top portion 256 thatextends to the top of bore 204 and fits into the end of conduit 102.Between the top portion 256 and the bottom portion 252 an extendingsealing member 258 is provided. The sealing member 258 includes anannular channel 260 that receives a mating annular shoulder 262 thatextends from the lower end of the bore 204. The shoulder 262 extendsfrom the wall of the bore 204 and defines an opening 220 that receivesthe wire seal 250. The specific shape and configuration of the wire sealmay vary from that shown in the drawings provided the wire seal iscapable of providing the liquid tight seal as described herein.

An annular shaped externally threaded lock member 264 is threadablyengageable with the screwthreads 204 a formed in bore 204. The lockmember 264, when fully threaded in bore 204 compresses the sealing ring264 of wire seal 250 to seat shoulder 262 in channel 260 and to seal theinterior of the electronics housing 19 from the upper portion of bore204. The lock member 264 has a flat lower surface 264 a that presses onthe flat upper surface 258 a of sealing member 258. The upper surface264 b of the lock ring is positioned below the inlet 232 of channel 230such that the inlet is in liquid communication with the interior ofconduit 102 and liquid in the conduit hub 202 may enter the channelinlet 232 and drain out of the conduit hub 202. To control the distancethe lock member 264 is threaded into bore 204 a custom tool 280 (FIG.12) may be provided that engages the lock member 264 such that rotationof the tool 280 threads the lock member 264 into the bore. The tool 280may be configured to thread the lock member 264 a precise distance intothe bore 204 such that the lock member 264 is properly seated againstthe sealing ring 258 and is positioned below inlet 232. While use of acustom tool 280 is described, any tool for threading the lock member 264into the bore 204 may be used provided that the lock ring 264 ispositioned below the inlet 232 of the channel 230 and the seal ring 264is properly compressed.

At least one channel 230 is formed in the conduit hub 204 that extendsfrom a channel inlet 232 to a channel outlet 234 that communicates withthe exterior of the conduit hub 204. In the illustrated embodiment onechannel 230 is shown. However, a greater or fewer number of channels maybe provided and the channels may or may not be equally spaced from oneanother. Each channel 230 extends generally radially from bore 204 andis formed internally of conduit hub 202. The channel inlet 232 ispositioned below the end of the conduit 102 when the conduit isconnected to the conduit hub 202 such that the inlet 232 is incommunication with the interior of the conduit 102 as shown in FIG. 13.The channel outlet 234 is positioned outside of hub 202 such that anywater discharged from the channel outlet 234 is deposited to theexterior of the electronics housing. While in the illustrated embodimentthe channel 230 is formed as a straight run that extends laterally fromthe inlet 232 to the outlet 234, the channels 230 may have other shapesprovided the channels are capable of transporting the water from theinlet 232 to an outlet 234 that is outside of the electronics housing.For example, the channel may have a more curvilinear or serpentineshape, the channels may have distinct linear portions as previouslydescribed or the channels may be angled downwardly rather than extendinglaterally.

To assembly the cord grip, the wire seal 250 and integrated electricalwiring 101 are inserted into the bore 204 of conduit hub 202. One end ofthe electrical wiring 101 is electrically coupled to wires 100 in theconduit 102 and the other end of the electrical wiring is connected toelectrical conductors 107 in the electronics housing 19. The lock member264 is threaded into the threaded bore 204 trapping the annular sealring 256 between the flat bottom surface 264 a of the lock member 264ring and the annular shoulder 262. The end of the conduit 102 is securedto the conduit hub 202 such as by threadably engaging screwthreads 102 aon the conduit 102 with mating screwthreads 204 a on the conduit hub202. It is to be understood that the order of the steps for assemblingthe cord grip may vary from the order provided above.

Once assembled, the cord grip of the invention seals the electronicshousing 19 and evacuates water or other liquid in the conduit 102 to theexterior of the system. Referring to FIG. 13 the water evacuation pathis shown by arrows. The liquid collects inside of the conduit 102, abovethe lock member 264. The liquid flows into the inlet 232 and through thechannel 230 to the outlet 234. The outlet 234 discharges the liquidoutside of the electronics housing 19 and away from the electroniccomponents contained in the electronics housing 19.

Another embodiment of the cord grip of the invention is shown in FIGS.14 and 15. The cord grip comprises a conduit hub 302 that comprises aninternally threaded bore 304 that acts as a conduit that communicatesthe interior of the electronics housing 19 with the exterior of theelectronics housing. The threaded bore 304 comprises internal threads304 a that threadably engage with external threads 102 a formed onconduit 102. The conduit hub 302 may be formed integrally with theelectronics housing 19 or it may be a separate member from theelectronics housing 19 and may be connected to a wall of the electronicshousing by any suitable mechanism such as welding, a lock nut, separatefasteners or the like. Other mechanisms for connecting the conduit hub302 to the electronics housing 19 may be used. The conduit hub may haveother shapes and configurations from that shown in the drawings.

A wire seal 350 is positioned in the threaded bore 304 of conduit hub302. Wire seal 350 receives the electrical wires 101 and provides aliquid-tight seal between the conduit hub 302 and the interior ofelectronics housing 19. The wire seal 350 may made of an elastomericmaterial such as rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, silicone elastomersor the like. The wire seal 350 is deformable to form a liquid tight sealwith the conduit hub 302 as will be described.

As previously described the wire seal 350 receives the electrical wiring101 such that the electrical wiring 101 extends through the wire seal350 and extends between the exterior of the electronics housing 19 andthe interior of the electronics housing. In one embodiment, the wireseal 350 is overmolded onto the wiring 101 such that the wire seal isbonded to the wiring 101 to create a liquid-tight seal as previouslydescribed. As previously described the wiring 101 may comprise wires 103that are encased in a common insulating sheathing 105 that is overmoldedto the wire seal or the individual wires may be overmolded to the wireseal 350 such that a liquid-tight seal is created between the individualwires and the wire seal 350. The liquid-tight seal between the wire seal350 and the electrical wiring may also be formed by a compression fit,adhesive, ultrasonic welding or the like as previously described. Wherethe electrical wiring 101 is permanently secured in the seal 350, suchas by overmolding, the seal 350 and a length of integrated wiring may beprovided as a unit where a first connection is made between theintegrated electrical wiring and the wiring 100 in the conduit 102 and asecond connection is made between the integrated electrical wiring andthe conductors 107 in the electronics housing 19.

The wire seal 350 includes a bottom portion 352 that extends to thebottom of bore 304. The wire seal 350 includes a top portion 356 thatextends upwardly into the conduit 102. Between the top portion 356 andthe bottom portion 352 a sealing member 358 is formed that fits into amating hole 354 formed in a shoulder 362 in the bore 304. The walls ofthe sealing member 358 and the hole 354 may be formed at an anglerelative to the insertion direction of the seal member such that thesealing member 358 and the hole 354 are shaped as truncated cones. Whenthe conduit hub 302 is assembled, the sealing member 358 of the wireseal 350 is wedged into the hole 354 to create a fluid tight sealtherebetween. The specific shape and configuration of the wire seal mayvary from that shown in the drawings provided the wire seal is capableof providing the liquid tight seal as described herein.

A metal plate 370 is also overmolded as part of the wire seal 350. Themetal plate 370 extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of bore 304 and is positioned to abut the underside of shoulder 362when the sealing member 358 is seated in hole 354. The wire seal 350 isheld in position in the conduit hub 302 by securing plate 370 to theflat bottom surface 360 of the conduit hub 302. The plate 370 may besecured by fasteners 374 that extend through holes 376 formed in theplate 370 and the overmold material and that engage threaded holes 378formed in the conduit hub. In addition to securing the wire seal 350 tothe conduit hub the overmolded plate 370 also seals the conduit 102 fromthe interior of the electronics housing 19. The upper surface 362 a ofthe shoulder 362 is positioned below the inlet 332 of channel 330 suchthat the inlet is in liquid communication with the interior of theconduit 102 and water in the conduit hub 302 may drain out of thechannels 330. The specific shape and configuration of the overmoldedmetal plate may vary from that shown in the drawings.

At least one channel 330 is formed in the conduit hub 304 that extendsfrom a channel inlet 332 to a channel outlet 334 that communicates withthe exterior of the conduit hub 304. In the illustrated embodiment onechannel 330 is shown. However, a greater or fewer number of channels maybe provided and the channels may or may not be equally spaced from oneanother. Each channel 330 is generally radially extending and is formedin the hub 304. The channel inlet 332 is positioned below the end of theconduit 102 when the conduit is connected to the conduit hub 304 suchthat the inlet 332 is in communication with the interior of the conduit302. The channel outlet 334 is positioned outside of hub 304 such thatany water discharged from the channel outlet is deposited to theexterior of the electronics housing. While in the illustrated embodimentthe channel 330 is formed as a straight run that extends laterally fromthe inlet to the outlet, the channels may have other shapes provided thechannels are capable of moving the water from the inlet that is interiorof the end of the conduit to an outlet that is outside of theelectronics housing. For example, the channel may have a morecurvilinear or serpentine shape, the channels may have distinct linearportions as previously described or the channels may be angleddownwardly rather than extending laterally.

To assemble the cord grip, the wire seal 350 and integrated electricalwiring 101 is inserted into the bore 304 of conduit hub 302 such thatthe seal member 358 is pressed into hole 354. The wire seal 350 issecured in place by fasteners 374. One end of the electrical wiring 101is electrically coupled to wires 100 in the conduit 102 and the otherend of the electrical wiring 101 is connected to electrical conductors107 in the electronics housing 19. The end of the conduit 102 is securedto the conduit hub 302 such as by threadably engaging screwthreads 102 aon the conduit 102 with mating screwthreads 304 a in bore 304. It is tobe understood that the order of the steps for assembling the cord gripmay vary from the order provided above.

Once assembled, the cord grip of the invention seals the electronicshousing and evacuates water or other fluid in the conduit to theexterior of the system. Referring to FIG. 15 the water evacuation pathis shown by arrows. The water collects inside of the bore 304, above theshoulder 362. The water flows into the inlets 332 and through thechannels 330 to the outlets 334. The outlets 334 discharge the wateroutside of the electronics housing 19 and away from the electroniccomponents contained in the electronics housing 19.

Although specific embodiments have been shown and described herein,those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that any arrangement,which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown and that the invention has otherapplications in other environments. This application is intended tocover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Thefollowing claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the specific embodiments described herein.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a conduit hub configured to be releasablyconnected to a connector of an electronics housing, the connector havinga first internal bore that communicates an interior of the electronicshousing with an exterior of the electronics housing; the conduit hubcomprising a second internal bore communicating with the first internalbore, the conduit hub comprising a first end connected to the connectorand a second end configured to be connected to a conduit; a wire sealretaining electrical wiring forming a liquid-tight seal between theconnector and the conduit hub; a channel formed at least partiallybetween and defined by the connector and the conduit hub fortransporting liquid from the conduit, the channel having an inlet inliquid communication with the conduit and an outlet communicating withthe exterior of the electronics housing.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the electrical wiring extends through the wire seal.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein an overmolded bond is formed between thewire seal and the electrical wiring.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 whereinthe electrical wiring comprises at least one electrical wire.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one electrical wire comprisesa plurality of electrical wires encased in sheathing.
 6. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the electronics housing is part of a LED lightingfixture.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channelis formed internally of the conduit hub.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the wire seal is received in the connector.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the wire seal is retained in the bore by a lock member.11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lock member is threadablyengaged with screwthreads in the bore.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10wherein the lock member holds the wire seal against a shoulder formed inthe bore.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lock member isdisposed to a first side of the channel inlet and an end of the conduitis disposed to a second side of the end of the conduit.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the wire seal comprises a plate and theplate is secured to the conduit hub.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14wherein a shoulder is formed in the bore that defines a hole and thewire seal comprises a plate that is secured to the conduit hub and asealing member that engages the hole.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15wherein the plate is overmolded with the sealing member.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 15 further comprising electrical wiring extendingthrough the wire seal wherein the plate and the electrical wiring areovermolded with the sealing member.
 18. An apparatus, comprising: aconduit hub configured to be connected to a connector of an electronicshousing defining a conduit through the conduit hub and the connectorthat communicates an interior of the electronics housing with anexterior of the electronics housing; the conduit hub configured to beconnected to a conduit; a wire seal forming a liquid-tight seal with theconduit hub and the connector; an overmolded bond joining electricalwiring to the wire seal to create a liquid-tight seal between theelectrical wiring and the wire seal; a channel formed at least partiallybetween and defined by the connector and the conduit hub fortransporting liquid from the conduit, the channel having an inlet inliquid communication with the conduit and an outlet communicating withthe exterior of the electronics housing.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18wherein the wire seal comprises a seal member located to one side of thechannel.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the electronics housingis part of a LED lighting fixture.
 21. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinair in the electronics housing is subject to expansion and contraction.